Sprinkler Mandate Repealed by House and Senate
State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong) announced on February 7, 2011 that she was introducing legislation for the immediate repeal of the code’s sprinkler mandate for all newly constructed single family and duplex homes which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. (KP file photo)
A new measure will relieve Armstrong County residents and other Pennsylvanians of costly a new construction mandate that was put into effect this year.
The measure, which passed the House by a vote of 129-68, repeals a requirement that automatic sprinkler systems must be installed in new home construction.
House Bill 377 removes the residential sprinkler requirements for new one- and tow-family residential homes. Further, the bill requires the state’s Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council to hold public hearings to determine the impact new provisions may have, including financial impact, and vote, with a two-thirds majority, before implementing the requirements in Pennsylvania.
Housing contractors and home owner associations had lobbied against the requirement, stating it sent new home construction and remodeling tumbling down during the last twelve months. However, fire departments and code enforcement officials believed instituting sprinkler requirements would save lives when a fire would break out in a home.
This is the first bill to pass in both chambers of the General Assembly during the current session. It also marks the first bill that will be sent to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett.
Local News | April 15, 2011
By jester, April 15, 2011 @ 9:05 AM
Sprinklers save lives its been documented time and time again, there is so much misinformation out there about them and the costs, these would be priceless in rural areas where fire department response is delayed to travel time. Prime example is a recient fire in templetons run district where the fire burnt thru a plastic water which then caused a sprinkler like effect keepin the fire in check until units got on scene. lives are priceless so why not spend a few % now to possibly save a life down the road
By DJL1975, April 15, 2011 @ 12:17 PM
Speaking of so much misinformation, the fear mongering propaganda will not prevail over common sense! The residential sprinkler requirements as prescribed by the PA UCC are not designed to FIGHT the fire. Minimum code requirements dictate that the 2 most water challenged sprinkler heads need to be supplied for a minimum of 10 minutes. (This only works rurally if your power does not go out because you need power to run the pump that supplies the system. - BTW, code does not require a backup electric source.) The intention of the code is to give the occupants 10 minutes to get out of the structure as long as you have power. New construction already requires fire stopping to help control the spread of the fire and smoke alarms to alert the occupants. The smoke alarms for a couple hundred dollars are far more effective to alert occupants than a $10,000 sprinkler system that only functions at the source of the fire if you have power. BTW, homeowners still have the CHOICE to install a sprinkler system just as we always have.
By solomon, April 15, 2011 @ 1:13 PM
The argument isn’t whether sprinklers save lives, but whether the government should have the authority to tell you you must put them in when you build. If I build right next to a fire hydrant, should I also have to pay to install sprinklers?
By towniearm, April 16, 2011 @ 7:56 AM
Yea the sprinkler systems may save some damage, but, like others have said the cost to rural residents to install outside holding tanks and pumps to feed the system is ridiculous. The standard 20 to 30 gallon pressure tank and well water pump will not keep up and as soon as the power is done so is the sprinkler system.